ORCHARD PARK – With apologies to ESPN Films, what if I told you the Buffalo Bills were trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-20 with just over three minutes to play and needed only 46 seconds to tie the game?

What if I told you that the Buccaneers had the ball, 2:28 of clock, three timeouts, the two-minute warning and red-hot quarterback Jameis Winston under center, and they lost?

What if I told you the Bills found a way to win a game that a year ago — heck, any of the last 17 non-playoff years ago — they would’ve found a way to lose?

What if I told you guys named Thompson, O’Leary, Thomas, Ducasse, Jones, Davis, Milano and Johnson were among the stars wearing Buffalo blue and white?

What if I told you Buffalo is 4-2 and a team to be respected and reckoned with under coach Sean McDermott as the NFL calendar moves toward Halloween?

I suppose if I told you all of this and you believed it before knowing the final score, I could sell you a bridge in Brooklyn. Or you might wonder what they spiked the coffee with in the press box at New Era Field. But it’s all true.

After Sunday’s thrilling and highly entertaining 30-27 victory, one that kept the Bills in the upper echelon of NFL teams, it’s not too early to wonder, “Why not this year?’’

The AFC is more open than 7-Eleven, with a lot of good but not great teams. The even-keeled, ultra-prepared McDermott has his team believing in “The Process.” Contributions are coming from every segment of the roster, meaning injuries aren’t the monster under the bed anymore.

And lastly — and maybe most important of all — the ball is bouncing Buffalo’s way. As the Bills’ dear late owner Ralph Wilson used to say, “You need luck in everything in life.’’

And Ralph most definitely counted the game of football, where the ball is a funny shape, in that.

With this back-and-forth contest of wills tied and just 2:28 left to play, it was Tampa Bay’s for the taking. Surely the talented Winston, who had already tossed three second-half touchdowns and was on his way to 400-plus yards passing, surely with all his weapons, including DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans and O.J. Howard, would methodically move into range for the winning field goal.

It was as sure as suds on a Genny. But this is 2017, right?

After Winston threw a short pass to Adam Humphries for eight yards on first down, Bills rookie corner Tre'davious White, a defensive rookie of the year candidate, punched the ball loose and recovered the fumble all in one swoop at the Buccaneers’ 33-yard line.

Seven plays later, Stephen “House Money’’ Hauschka drilled the winning 30-yard field goal and after a crazy final play that included eight Tampa Bay laterals and Buffalo defensive tackle Marcell Dareus making his biggest tackle of the season on Jackson, the victory was in the books to the relief of 68,000 fans on a summer-like day at The Cap, where the Bills are 3-0.

“It personifies this city, doesn’t it?’’ a fired-up McDermott said. “Heart, toughness, blue-collar, and fans that stuck with us all day. I thought it was awesome, man. Awesome.’’

Jon Gruden couldn’t have said it better.

The Bills beat a dangerous Tampa Bay (2-4) team because of that play-to-the-final-whistle mentality McDermott has brought to town, but also because of the playmakers general manager Brandon Beane has assembled. They seemed to fall from the sky Sunday, led by Deonte Thompson, a five-year veteran signed last Tuesday to beef up a thin receiving corps.

Thompson, a fringe NFL player who has logged time with the Ravens, Bills and Bears, who was released by Chicago five games into this season, caught four passes for 107 yards, the biggest being a 44-yard grab from Tyrod Taylor that led to LeSean McCoy’s tying touchdown run and the removal of goat horns after his fumble led to an Evans’ touchdown catch that gave Tampa Bay a very brief 27-20 lead.

Thompson landed hard, and defender Robert McClain landed on him for a helmet-to-helmet penalty and another 15 yards. That 75-yard TD drive took just three plays and 46 seconds.

“Crazy week, crazy week,’’ Thompson said. “They signed me Tuesday evening, I had to learn the offense and get ready for Sunday. Just a blessing though.’’

And a blessing for the Bills, who needed a spark in their passing game even with the return of Jordan Matthews from a thumb injury.

Taylor and Thompson were once Baltimore teammates running scout team plays. Who would’ve thought they’d instantly spark up this kind of chemistry?

“We picked up where we left off,’’ Thompson said. “We caught a lot of balls together.’’

But not when they counted. The signing was an astute move by Beane, but then so were a lot of others. From keeping players on the roster to adding new ones through the draft and free agency.

Longtime Oakland running back Taiwan Jones made a critical catch-and-run for 11 yards to convert a third down on the winning field goal drive, allowing the Bills to chew more clock. Backup tight ends Nick O’Leary and Logan Thomas combined for three catches, 80 yards and a touchdown with Charles Clay out. Vlad Ducasse earned another start at right guard as Buffalo churned out 173 yards rushing.

“There’s a whole bunch of guys in here that other teams didn’t want,’’ Thompson said. “We all feel like that, that this is a great team that can do some special things this year. We believe in one another.’’

What if I told you, Bills Nation is believing in them?

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